Your home should be your safe space. If you currently feel overwhelmed and cramped, use these tips to make your home feel more natural and calming.

We’ve all been there. Life gets chaotic, and your home becomes anything but the sanctuary you need after a long day. If your space feels more “stress central” than “zen den,” don’t worry—I’ve got your back! With a few practical changes and upgrades, you can make your home feel more natural and calming. My goal is to help you create a space that genuinely recharges you and makes you feel safe in every respect. The best part is that the process is not as intimidating (or expensive) as you think. Let’s get into the top improvements to prioritize for a relaxing living space!

Bring in Plants (Even If You Have a Black Thumb)

Plants are truly the best thing you can bring into your home if you want to create a more relaxing space. These green superheroes not only look incredible as interior design features but also purify the air and physically lower your stress. Yes, that’s right—surrounding yourself with living greenery lowers your cortisol levels, naturally instilling calm throughout your body and mind. Sounds pretty awesome, right?

If you’re a total newbie to plant ownership, don’t worry. There are plenty of species that are so easy to care for that you can practically do no wrong. Snake plants are a classic example of a resilient plant that would require months of neglect to die. Here are some other popular plants for newbies:

• spider plant
• pothos
• rubber plant
• aloe
• ZZ plant
• philodendron 
• cast iron plant
• air plants

If you’re at all unsure about which species to bring into your home, just head to your local plant shop or nursery. The people there can help you pick the best plant babies for your home’s lighting and climate and your care abilities. 

Use Natural Materials Wherever You Can

The materials you use in your decor can make a massive difference in how natural the space feels. If your home features a lot of plastic, it’s not going to feel like a woodland fairy’s dreamhouse. Instead, wood, stone, natural textiles, and warm metals are the way to go. 

To get started, switch out your synthetic throws and pillows for organic cotton or wool versions. Then, if you have the budget to upgrade your furniture, find pieces that predominantly feature wood, bamboo, or rattan. Even smaller accents like a wooden side table or a woven basket next to your couch really add to the earthy atmosphere you’re trying to create. 

Declutter Like You Mean It

A cluttered space creates a cluttered mind. If your shelves, counters, and floors are overflowing with knickknacks, now’s the time to pare down.

Marie Kondo your stuff. Ask yourself, “Does this spark joy?” If it doesn’t, donate, recycle, or toss it. It’s that simple!

Once your home is decluttered, your task becomes keeping it that way. Make a habit of clearing all surfaces and drawers throughout the day. Don’t put your things down—put them away. If you see something in your home that you haven’t used for months or have forgotten about entirely, consider letting it go.

And remember that you need a system to stay organized. Things will inevitably end up on the floor if they don’t have a dedicated home. So find homes for your things! For example, hang hooks for bags and coats, get baskets for throws, and keep everyday essentials in easily accessible drawers. These are just ideas, though; you’ll have to find a system that works for you. But the reward is a beautifully tidy space that doesn’t disrupt your inner calm.

Play With Colors From Nature

If you incorporate natural materials and plants into your home design, you’ll automatically introduce earthy colors. However, it’s important to be extra intentional about adding color to your space and making those colors fit the natural theme. Generally, natural homes feature a lot of browns, greens, blues, and reds in muted, earthy hues.

Let’s say you want granite countertops. When choosing colors for your granite countertops, consider how the hue and pattern will fit into your home’s color palette and enhance the eco vibes.

Rugs, curtains, blankets, and other textiles are also important to focus on. These features allow you to easily introduce more color into your space, so consider how they can contribute to the theme and environment you’re curating.

Maximize Natural Light

Nothing feels better than sunlight streaming into your home. To get more of it, trade heavy curtains for sheer ones. Sheer curtains diffuse light beautifully without blocking it. Also, position seating near windows to encourage relaxation in the light-filled areas of your home. And don’t forget about mirrors! Place mirrors opposite windows to bounce light around your home. 

Use Scents To Set the Mood

Your home should smell as amazing as it looks. That doesn’t mean you need to douse everything in chemical air fresheners (please don’t). Instead, go for scents that feel grounded and natural. 

Essential oils are super popular for this! Lavender, eucalyptus, and cedarwood are perfect for creating calming vibes. You can spread them throughout your space using a diffuser (which also introduces moisture into the air that your plants will love).

Create a multidimensional scent-scape by burning candles as well. Stock up on soy-based candles with clean-burning ingredients in scents like sandalwood, sage, or vanilla for ultimate comfort. 

Add Personal Touches

To make your home truly calming, it needs to reflect you. Incorporate pieces that make you happy or remind you of meaningful experiences.

That might mean displaying souvenirs from your travels, photos with loved ones, unique thrift store finds, art you’ve created, or whatever else is special to you. When your space feels personal and uniquely yours, it’ll naturally make you feel calmer.

Final Thoughts

Making your home feel more natural and calming is achievable, even if it doesn’t seem like it right now. It’s all about introducing life and grounding features into the space. I truly hope these tips put you on the path to creating a space that feels like a breath of fresh air. You deserve to come home to peace every single day!